Today I received a phone call - " What can you tell me about breastfeeding or pumping in the work place." Now I know that the law in NYS states says that work places MUST provide a private place for breastfeeding moms. I even knew where to find the info but what surprised me is that there are still employers who just don't get it. One women was told she can use the ladies room when she needs to pump. Another was told she only had 15 minutes start to finish and then back to work. In a country where childhood obesity and nutritionally based illnesses abound plus the knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding I just don't understand why we put such barriers on the successes of mom's who choose to offer the best nutrition to their infants. If you think about, why wouldn't an employer encourage his employees who are breastfeeding their child. Doesn't that mean healthier children leading to less time off by mom to care for an ill child.

Here is what New York State says about the rights of women to breastfeed their children. N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 79-e (1994) permits a mother to breastfeed her child in any public or private location. (SB 3999)N.Y. Labor Law § 206-c (2007) states that employers must allow breastfeeding mothers reasonable, unpaid break times to express milk and make a reasonable attempt to provide a private location for her to do so. Prohibits discrimination against breastfeeding mothers.N.Y. Penal Law § 245.01 et seq. excludes breastfeeding of infants from exposure offenses.N.Y. Public Health Law § 2505 provides that the Maternal and Child Health commissioner has the power to adopt regulations and guidelines including, but not limited to donor standards, methods of collection, and standards for storage and distribution of human breast milk.N.Y. Public Health Law § 2505-a creates the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill of Rights and requires it to be posted in a public place in each maternal health care facility. The commissioner must also make the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill of Rights available on the health department's website so that health care facilities and providers may include such rights in a maternity information leaflet. (2009 N.Y. Laws, Chap. 292; AB 789)

It wasn't until the upcoming birth of my first grandchild that I started to question this all to common practice on our baby boys. My mother in law didn't have to consider this as her children were all born at home. When my boys were born, I fell into the same old trap of -- it is just what has always been done so it must be good right? WRONG. When Kati told us that the sonogram said boy, and after the initial shock wore off because first sono said girl, I started researching this needless surgery. I was starting to hear things (myths if you will) like he'll look different than the other boys, they'll make fun of him, and on and on. I needed to be armed with a reason behind my beliefs. Being a believer in Jesus is written in the Bible considering the size of the book but between history and God's word and a whole lot of googling, I had my philosophy. While I wasn't going to force my opinion on Kati and Bob, it was in my prayers that they would make the right decision. So, twenty minutes after Tyler was born, the Dr. asked if he would be circumsized and at this point Bob won over my heart. He asked the doctor if there was any reason why he should be and this wonderful doctor said, NO, none whatsoever. That was all Bob needed to hear. Praise the Lord. My grandson would remain intact. By now though, I felt that all expectant parents should be educated about this unnecessary practice. I hope you will take the time to do the research as I have. I have listed some really good links to help you make an informed decision.

Watch out for those wicked men - dangerous dogs, I call them - who say you must be circumcised to be saved. Beware of evil doers. Beware of mutilation. For it isn't the cutting of our bodies that makes us children of God; it is by His Grace we are saved. - Philippians 3:2-3